How to Approach Tough Times and Win

You get what you expect. Expect means dream, start, learn from failures, persevere, and reap. When you get, it will be because you expected. Don't confuse expectation with manipulation.

There is no question that across the world people are generally experiencing tougher economic times. That does not mean that everyone is struggling, but it does mean that many that were doing well are doing less well and those that were already doing badly may be doing worse. There are some however that do better when things are tough. They are in the minority, but I'd like very much for that person to be you.

The first challenge is to ask you to critically examine how you are using your time. Specifically, how much time is productively used, and how much time are you wasting? I do not regard relaxation as wasting time. If you don't relax, you become tired and ineffective. Wasting is doing pointless things like lying in bed late when you could be exercising, flicking through the TV channels for something to fill the time instead of reading a good book, or surfing the net instead of investing in family time. Your leisure time is not the culprit.

If your usual efforts are producing less than usual, working longer hours at the expense of leisure time will simply exhaust you. You need to look at how you can invest your working time smarter and more productively. We often mistake busy for productive. It can be, but often isn't. Whether you regard yourself as successful or not, you are still using up 24 hours each day doing whatever it is that you're doing, so why not focus rather on being efficient and therefore effective?

Suggestion One: Ask yourself what life is for. Is it an endless quest for chasing money, or is there more joy in the accumulation of exceptional experiences and relationships. Where could you be contributing? What makes you feel fulfilled and worthwhile? Are you allowing relatively unimportant problems to consume you, or are you able to put troubles into perspective?

Suggestion Two: Decide what it is that you actually do. Are you the "Polyfiller" in everyone's life, the "Jack of All Trades" running around like a headless chicken, or are you focused on what you do and what you wish to achieve? With focus must come balance. Our lives have components. If you are hell bent on financial success, it may require giving up other important things to achieve this goal, and you could end up paying a heavy price, like losing your fitness, your health, or your family. Are you willing to pay that kind of price? Invest energy in the things that are important to you as a person by distributing your energy wisely.

Suggestion Three: Use the services of others to do certain tasks while you do things that are more important thereby clearing your schedule for more relaxation and therefore a better quality of life.

Suggestion four: Question how you look at difficulties. One person sees it's raining and thinks about getting wet. Another looks at the rain and rejoices that plants will grow and the leaves will become green. Your approach to a difficulty will more than likely determine the nature of your outcome.

Suggestion Five: Rid yourself of the clutter. Chaotic lives produce chaotic outcomes. The extent to which you clear your life of clutter will determine the clarity of your thoughts, and your ability to set clear objectives.

Perhaps the most fascinating of professions today is the entrepreneur. Maybe the most envied of all is the successful entrepreneur. Imagine....no one giving you orders, do what you like, earn what you want, go where you want. Studies of successful entrepreneurs show the following:

1. They have more leisure time than most other people. (Do they have more leisure time because they are successful. or are they more successful because they take more leisure time?)
2. They are less stressed than most other people, despite having to deal with more problems.
3. They regard thinking time as a vital part of their work regime.
4. They delegate ruthlessly, hold their people accountable and discipline fairly.
5. They have processes in place, but they don't sweat the small stuff.
6. They regard work as play, they don't work so that they can play.
7. They regard money merely as a concept. Because they don't focus on how much they have, or don't have, it's seldom a problem to them.

But there is little doubt that the freedom that comes with entrepreneurial success is irrestistible! But it matters little whether or not you are an entrepreneur - what is to stop you thinking like one and improving your response to difficult times? What stops you from taking on new skills to ensure that you not only flourish in the good times, but hold firm when it gets tough?

Paul du Toit CSP

Certified Speaking Professional, soon to be published Author, Mindsetshifter and Presentation Skills Coach.